Deep Sea Baby

THE STORY OF NIAN, A CHINESE NEW YEAR STORY
「年獸的故事」中國新年的故事。

Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a man-eating monster called "Nian". This beast lived deep in the ocean. It would sleep every day of the year, except on the last day of the Lunar Year, when the cold winter months would turn into Spring.

從前，很久很久以前，有一個吃人怪獸叫做「年獸」。這怪獸住在深海裡。它在一年裡的每一天都在睡覺，除了農曆年的最後一天，當寒冷的冬天歲月轉變成春天的時候。

Nian would come on land to attack, and eat whatever it could find and whatever lay in its path. This was the night everyone lived in terror!

「年獸」會上岸來攻擊，且吃掉它能找到及路上碰到的任何東西。就是這一夜，每個人都活在恐懼之中。

Year after year Nian returned, as this was a beast that was far too powerful for anyone to take on or defeat. Many had tried and all had perished. On New Year's eve, all the villagers would take their loved ones, old and young, deep into the mountains to take shelter from the beast.

年獸年年回來，因為牠超級強大，任何人都無法對抗或擊敗牠。很多人試過，而他們都死了。在除夕夜，所有的村民會帶上所愛的人，老老少少，到深山裡去躲避怪獸。

One year on that night, a traveler came to town, looking for food and shelter. Everyone, with the exception of an old lady, was far too busy packing to pay him any kindness or offer him a simple plate of dumplings or a place to sleep. After his meal, the passerby was touched by the old lady's generosity and decided to bestow a long hidden secret of how to be rid of the New Year beast.

有一年的那晚，一個旅行者來到了鎮上，尋找食物和棲身之處。除了一位老太太，每個人都太忙於打包而無法施予善意，或是給他僅僅一盤水餃或睡覺的地方。飯後，這路人被老太太的慷慨所感動，決定送給她一個長年藏於心中、怎麼除掉年獸的秘密。

That evening when Nian arrived at their village, all the houses were dark, except the one in which the old woman lived. As Nian saw the light, it licked its lips with anticipation and approached the house.

那晚當年獸到達他們的村莊時，除了老太太的房子以外，所有的房子都是暗黝黝的。當年獸看到亮光，它滿懷企望的舔了舔唇並走近房子。

Suddenly, it was greeted with deafening noises of firecrackers sounding endlessly. The monster was frightened and startled! Next, the beast saw that the house was covered in red paper. That scared Nian even more, and it took off running back into the ocean.

突然，接待它的是綿綿不斷、震耳欲聾的爆竹聲。這怪獸給嚇壞了。接下來，怪獸看到房子貼滿了紅紙。那使年獸更害怕，落荒而逃回海裡。

When the villagers returned, they saw that the old woman was unharmed! Everyone was eager to learn what she did to survive Nian. The old woman told the villagers that Nian was afraid of loud noises and the color red.

當村民們回來，看到老太太毫髮無傷！每個人都很想知道她做了什麼，而在年獸口下存活下來。老太太告訴村民們年獸很怕大聲的噪音和紅色。

The next year, the villagers stayed up all night, lit firecrackers, lit red lanterns all around their houses, pasted red paper on their walls and doors, wore red clothing, danced to loud music, and banged loud gongs and drums.

第二年，村民們整晚不睡，點爆竹，在他們房屋周圍點上紅燈籠，在牆壁、門上貼滿紅紙，穿紅衣，伴著大聲音樂跳舞，並且大聲的敲鑼打鼓。

That year and every year since, Nian has never returned. This eventually became a tradition and the way to celebrate Chinese New Year.

從那年起，年獸再也不回來了。這最後變成一個傳統及慶祝中國年的方式。